Celebrate Oktoberfest…German Style! By Bev Filer

Oktoberfest is the world’s largest beer festival! Prost!

It is held annually in Munich, Germany and attracts over 6 million people, consuming 1.5 million gallons of beer! Now, that’s a Celebration!

Though it originated in Germany as a wedding celebration for Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig to Saxon-Hildburghausen Princess Therese in 1810, Oktoberfest is now celebrated in the America…among other countries. It is fitting that we have our own celebration at Brunswick Plantation and Golf Resort hosted by folks at the Lakes. Brunswick Plantation is known for Fun and is also a place for elegant Destination Weddings! A perfect match…Celebrating Love and Fun…German style in North Carolina!

Oktoberfest History

The wedding celebration of Crown Prince Ludwig I and Princess Therese was held in the Munich in the German state of Bavaria. One of the things that made this royal wedding celebration unique was that the citizens of Munich were invited to join the festivities, which lasted for 5 days.The main event of the original Oktoberfest was the horse race!

A Fact about Germany 4 U…

Though Bavarian folk culture is best known to Americans, there are actually 16 federated states or Bundesland in Germany. Each has it’s own Coat of Arms

Bavarian Coat of Arms

More Oktoberfest & How It Grew

The anniversary celebration of the Oktoberfest grew larger and more elaborate throughout the years. From an agricultural show the second year with entertainment like tree climbing competitions & wheel barrow & sack races to 1908 when the festival boasted Germany’s 1st roller coaster…And to the present day, Oktoberfest has grown into a truly spectacular celebration! Oktoberfest today is one of Munich’s largest & most profitable tourist attractions! The festival is so popular that it was prolonged & moved ahead to September to allow for better weather conditions. Today, the last day of Oktoberfest is the first Sunday in October. The 200th anniversary of the Oktoberfest was in 2010! That’s some party!

Oktoberfest Tents!

As I lived in Germany teaching military students, I did attend the Oktoberfest a few times. I was amazed at the number of Americans that visited Germany just to attend the Oktoberfest! Elaborate Beer Halls, a standard since 1896, are sponsored by local breweries and are a treat to see! People of different nationalities join together for Fun and Celebration! One time I was at a table of mostly Brits. One couple, who lived in Watford, outside of London, invited friends & me to visit them when we went to London. We did and were treated like royalty ourselves! They teased us about being from “The Colonies”. I sent them a book about Pennsylvania, so they could learn about one of the “The Colonies”!

Fun & Food @ The Oktoberfest

Kool & The Gang would love the Oktoberfest as they Cel-a-brate… Celebrate Good Times Come On! The Oktoberfest really is a Celebration open to everyone around the World!

Two weeks before the first Sunday in October, the fairgrounds known as “Theresienwiese” (Theresa’s meadow), named after the royal bride 0f 1810, are transformed and becomes a city of beer tents, amusements, rides. performers, music, food and fun! The 103 acre Oktoberfest grounds has variety to include rides, entertainment by numerous performers, and much more!

The Mayor of Munich officially opens the Oktoberfest at noon on the first day of the festival when he drives a wooden tap into a barrel of beer and proclaims: O’zapft is! “It is tapped!”The Mayor then gives the first beer to the Minister-President of the German State of Bavaria!

The Oktoberfest beer is of the variety called Marzen. It is darker and stronger than traditional beer and contains 6% alcohol. Oktoberfest beer is brewed according to strict German beers standards! Six Munich breweries serving beer at the Oktoberfest are : Augustiner, Hack-Pschorr, Hofbrau, Lowenbrau, Paulaner, & Spaten.

The Costume & Rifleman’s Procession takes place on the first Sunday of the festival. Parading through the streets of Munich’s city center are 7000 performers & groups in traditional costumes, marching bands, riflemen, thoroughbred horses, Old-fashioned carriages, and a variety of floats!

The 2nd Sunday of the Oktoberfest features an open-air big band concert involving around 400 musicians who comprise all of the Oktoberfest Bands! Folk music and dancing are also popular…Fun for All!